CHICAGO ARSON AT 'VELVET ROPE' GAY CLUB

The wave of domestic terrorism continues, this time at THE VELVET ROPE, in Oak Park.

The blaze Sunday morning gutted the Velvet Rope, at 728 Lake St. The club's owner, Frank Elliott, said derogatory messages were scrawled on the wall inside the burned-out club. Authorities were seen removing a piece of a wall and loading it onto a truck.

Authorities have not said whether they believe the business was targeted because it was a gay club.

I have no idea whether any of these arson events are connected, or if there's a copycat factor. Even one individual acting alone is committing terrorism when the intent is to cause terror in any community. Period.

SEE ALSO: ATLANTA ANTICHOICE ARSON
ANTIGAY HATE MURDERS UP YEAR-OVER-YEAR

INTERVIEW: BAN ON BACHELORETTE PARTIES

CNN interviews David Cooley, owner of the Abbey in West Hollywood. He makes a strong statement for equal rights, going beyond the ban to draw the larger picture. Bravo.

Follow-up to: BAN ON BACHELORETTE PARTIES

See also: DOMA UNCONSTITUTIONAL? NOT SO FAST... 
GAY, SORTA, DISCRIMINATION AT A STRAIGHT CLUB?

THE ABBEY BANS BACHELORETTE PARTIES

West Hollywood gay bar, The Abbey, bans bachelorette parties:

"Every Friday and Saturday night, we're flooded with requests from straight girls in penis hats who want to ogle our gogos, dance with the gays and celebrate their pending nuptials. They are completely unaware that the people around them are legally prohibited from getting married," David Cooley, the founder of The Abbey said in a statement.

Thanks to Steven T. for alerting me to this story.

I wish more bars would institute something of the sort. Around my neighborhood, mentioned in the article, crazed drunken women take over gay establishments every weekend because, as they all ways put it, "It's safe."

Ah for the bad old dangerous days.

UPDATE: THE CNN INTERVIEW

Prohibition is Back in Minnesota

Not fully, but the beer is running out in some bars. Star-Trib:

Of the roughly 10,000 establishments that sell liquor in Minnesota, most of those who needed to renew their buyer purchasing cards managed to do so before the July 1 shutdown started. About 300 were caught with cards that expired on June 30 and no way to renew the permits.

I guess this becomes a rolling drought, as these licenses come up for renewal.

Prohibition hasn't exactly returned, but partially so.

Time for enterprising Minnesotans to stockpile for the coming Alcoholypse.

New Music Venue on Ave. A?

Not so fast.

Disclosure. I got a letter to go down to the meeting and speak in support. I'm not at all against having a new serious music venue for alternative performance, since we've lost so many. I really did not know enough about the plans to show up in support. Having that over a sports bar? Sure.

There's so much nonsense coming from the opposition to all bars in the neighborhood that denies the reality of what's happening here. Building owners charge so much that the only businesses that can make enough are bars. People can't stand the noise on the weekends from all these bars, but when they are denied a license, absolutely nothing ever fills the empty space. (Although this particular case is quite different.)

Why are the owners never mentioned or engaged in a solution to the broader issue at hand?